Biggest explosions in the universe powered by strongest magnets
Wednesday, July 8, 2015 - 13:00
in Astronomy & Space
Observations have for the first time demonstrated a link between a very long-lasting burst of gamma rays and an unusually bright supernova explosion. The results show that the supernova was not driven by radioactive decay, as expected, but was instead powered by the decaying super-strong magnetic fields around an exotic object called a magnetar.